Reproduction
During the late spring and early summer, male bullfrogs mate with females by making their “jug-a-rum” sound that gives them their name. This attracts a female bullfrog into its territory. The male bullfrog then “rides” the female, and the female produces up to 20,000 eggs at the same time the male releases sperm. The eggs hatch within 3-5 days, although most of them are eaten by predators and do not survive. Once they hatch, newly-born tadpoles are still in danger of predators, and they are herbivorous during this stage of their life. Tadpoles then go through metamorphosis, which takes only a few months in southern climates, and up to three years in northern climates. During this time, they grow arms and legs, their tail gets shorter, lungs develop and gills disappear. Mature frogs still live in water, and have a life expectancy of about 7-9 years, during which they will reproduce every spring. 2,3
Energy
Bullfrogs eat virtually anything they can overpower and swallow. They are aggressive and carnivorous. Bullfrogs consume the typical frog diet, including insects such as the spur-throated grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus) and underwing moths (catocala relicta), worms like the earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris), and other invertebrates like crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). However, unlike most other frog species, they also eat small mammals like field mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), birds, snakes, turtles, frogs of competing species, and even smaller bullfrogs. Tadpoles, however, are herbivorous, and eat underwater plants and algae. Bullfrogs and their tadpoles are prey to many animals, including fish, birds, mammals, snakes, crustaceans, and insects. Smaller animals like crustaceans and insects feed more on the tadpoles and eggs, as do smaller fish, birds, and mammals. Any of these types of animals that are large enough not to be prey to the bullfrog essentially prey on the bullfrog. Humans also kill bullfrogs (frog legs), as do other bullfrogs.
INTERACTIONS:
Bullfrogs interact with humans because of the effect of pollution upon bodies of water. Humans burn fossil fuels into water, the water heats up, an abundance of aquatic plants grow, and bullfrogs benefit from that, since they favor warm water to breed in, and lots of vegetation for their tadpoles to feed upon. So, oddly, bullfrogs have positive interactions with humans because of pollution. Bruening, S. (2002). Animal diversity web. Retrieved from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lithobates_catesbeianus.html
Month 1
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
CONSUMER FACT CARD
Reproduction
During the late spring and early summer, male bullfrogs mate with females by making their “jug-a-rum” sound that gives them their name. This attracts a female bullfrog into its territory. The male bullfrog then “rides” the female, and the female produces up to 20,000 eggs at the same time the male releases sperm. The eggs hatch within 3-5 days, although most of them are eaten by predators and do not survive. Once they hatch, newly-born tadpoles are still in danger of predators, and they are herbivorous during this stage of their life. Tadpoles then go through metamorphosis, which takes only a few months in southern climates, and up to three years in northern climates. During this time, they grow arms and legs, their tail gets shorter, lungs develop and gills disappear. Mature frogs still live in water, and have a life expectancy of about 7-9 years, during which they will reproduce every spring. 2,3
Energy
Bullfrogs eat virtually anything they can overpower and swallow. They are aggressive and carnivorous. Bullfrogs consume the typical frog diet, including insects such as the spur-throated grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus) and underwing moths (catocala relicta), worms like the earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris), and other invertebrates like crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). However, unlike most other frog species, they also eat small mammals like field mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), birds, snakes, turtles, frogs of competing species, and even smaller bullfrogs. Tadpoles, however, are herbivorous, and eat underwater plants and algae.
Bullfrogs and their tadpoles are prey to many animals, including fish, birds, mammals, snakes, crustaceans, and insects. Smaller animals like crustaceans and insects feed more on the tadpoles and eggs, as do smaller fish, birds, and mammals. Any of these types of animals that are large enough not to be prey to the bullfrog essentially prey on the bullfrog. Humans also kill bullfrogs (frog legs), as do other bullfrogs.
Bull frog tadpoles. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bullfrogs.com/Bullfrog-Tadpoles.html
Wikipedia contributors. (03 J). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullfrog
National aquarium: Baltimore. (07/D). Retrieved from http://www.aqua.org/animals_americanbullfrog.html
INTERACTIONS:
Bullfrogs interact with humans because of the effect of pollution upon bodies of water. Humans burn fossil fuels into water, the water heats up, an abundance of aquatic plants grow, and bullfrogs benefit from that, since they favor warm water to breed in, and lots of vegetation for their tadpoles to feed upon. So, oddly, bullfrogs have positive interactions with humans because of pollution.
Bruening, S. (2002). Animal diversity web. Retrieved from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lithobates_catesbeianus.html